The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on Wednesday recovered two parcels of public land in Machakos town valued at Sh50 million.
The land was irregularly allocated to private individuals in the 1990s. The recovery follows investigations and court rulings, reaffirming the Commission’s commitment to reclaiming public assets.
The recovered properties, identified as Machakos Municipality Block 1/623 and Block 1/624, are situated along Kangundo Road and measure about 0.79 acres.
According to the Commission, these parcels were part of a larger piece of land, LR No. 909/536, measuring 1.78 acres that was originally reserved for institutional housing under the Ministry of Health.
“The land hosts government House No. Mach/House/HG.14, classified as a ‘pool house,’ and currently accommodates the Sub-County Police Commander,” the Commission explained.
Investigations revealed that LR No. 909/536 was unlawfully subdivided into three parcels, Blocks 1/622, 1/623, and 1/624.
While Blocks 1/623 and 1/624 ended up in private hands, the section housing the government facility remained under public use.
During the inquiry, the registered owner of Block 1/624 voluntarily surrendered the land back to the Government. However, for Block 1/623, the Commission had to take legal action.
In 2019, the EACC filed a suit seeking recovery of Machakos Municipality Block 1/623 against Wilson Gacanja, the then Commissioner of Lands, and Joseph Mutuku Muia, son of a former Masaku Town Council Mayor.
In a landmark judgment delivered on January 16, 2026, Environment and Land Court Judge Hon. Justice Nelly A. Matheka ruled that the land was originally part of LR No. 909/536 and was reserved for public utility for government housing.
The court ordered the cancellation of the title held by Muia and directed that the land register be corrected to revert the property to the Government of Kenya.
The Commission also recovered two other properties within Machakos County through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms over the past year.
These include Machakos Municipality Block 2/7, a Ministry of Housing parcel allocated to the Judiciary, and Block 2/936, part of the Machakos Primary School land.
Speaking at the site of the recovered land, EACC Director of Legal Services and Asset Recovery, David K. Too, stated, “The Commission is currently pursuing the recovery of assets valued at approximately Sh363 million across Machakos, Kitui, and Makueni counties.”
He highlighted that among the assets being pursued are 13 parcels of Kenya Prisons land within Machakos County valued at about Sh60 million.
Too reiterated the Commission’s dedication to recovering illegally acquired public assets, urging any individuals or entities in possession of such properties to voluntarily surrender them for their intended public use.
“This is part of our broader mandate to protect public resources and ensure that assets meant for public benefit are not lost to illegal private ownership,” he added.
The recovery marks a significant victory in the fight against land grabbing, a persistent issue that undermines public trust and the effective delivery of services in Kenya.
As the Commission continues to intensify efforts to retrieve public assets, this case reaffirms the importance of vigilance, legal enforcement, and the role of institutions in safeguarding public property.
